Handbag structure



July 11," 1939. G. s. MERK HANDBAG STRUCTURE Filed July 22, 1938 George J. Her): fifizzy Patented July 11, 1939 PATENT oFFIc E HANDBAG STRUCTURE George SQMerk, Watertowm'Mass assignor to United -.Carr Fastener Corporation,

Cam-

bridge, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 22, 1938, Serial No. 220,723

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hand bags and the like containers and, more particularly, to frame structures for the same.

An object of my invention is theprovision of a frame structure having channel-shaped frame members which provide means for gripping hand bag c'overing'material inserted'into the frame members. J

Another object of my invention relates to the construction of the frame members whereby the covering material is secured to the frame in a way to forma fold projecting above the frame members in imitation of a French cuff, as known by the trade.

Other objects and purposes of my invention will be apparent from inspection of the drawing hereinbelow set forth.

Referring to the drawing, in which I have illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved hand bag in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a front view of my improved hand bag, the frame members being suggested in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the hand bag shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing one construction of the frame members;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4, showing a second construction of the frame members;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the form'of my invention shown in Fig. 4, but showing the frame members in open position before the covering material is secured thereto;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of a portion of my improved frame member taken along the line I'I of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view illustrating a third form of my improved frame members.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown in Figs. 1-3 a hand bag with which I have chosen to illustrate the use of my improved frame members having covering material I comprising front and rear side walls 2 and 3 and end walls 4. The free edges of portions of the covering material are secured in two channel-shaped frame members 5 and 6, which are preferably formed of sheet metal and secured together at their free ends by any suitable means which will permit a movement of one frame member relative to the other, as by a pivotal movement well known to those skilled in the art.

An important feature of my improved hand bag construction lies in the fact that the frame members 5 and 6 are constructed in such a way that when the covering material I is secured to the frame members, the material provides folds 5 I located adjacent the respective frame members and disposed above the frame members in a way to conceal the same when the hand bag is viewed from the front and real, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2. Thus the folds I give to the hand bag a 10 distinctive and attractive appearance which is comparable to the pleasing result effected by the expensive folds known in the trade as French cuffs.

, Referring to my first form of frame structure 5 illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, I have shown frame members of the channel type adapted to receive the covering material I for anchoring the covering to the frame structure. Each of the frame members 5 and. 6 in the form of my invention illustrated in Figsnl and 6 has an inner wall 8 and a bottom fiange 9 and top flange Ill extending on the same side thereof in substantially rightangular relation thereto. An outer wall II extends from the outer end of the bottom flange .25 9 and is bent away from the inner wall 8 in open position, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to form an obtuseangle with the bottom flange 9. The outer wall I I is formed of sufficient length to intersect substantially the plane of the top flange I9 when .30 the covering is anchored to the frame member, as most clearly shown in Fig. 4. A downwardlyextending portion I2 is formed integral with the outer endof the top flange I0, in my preferred form, and provides a lip portion I3 at its free end running the length of the downwardly-extending portion I2 and substantially facing the outer wall I I, as most clearly shown in Figs. 6 and '7.

To assemble the bag material I with my improved frame construction, the material is 40 brought over the upper edge I4 of the outer wall II of each of the frame members 5 and 6 and positioned between the outer and inner walls of the frame members. The outer walls I I are then bent by a suitable tool into a substantially bow shape so as to dispose the upper edge I4 of the wall II toward the flange ll! of the inner wall 8 whereby the covering I is clenched between the fiange I0 and the edge I4. At the same time the lip I3 of the downwardly-extending portion I2 engages the covering I at a point beneath that point engaged by the upper edge I4. As a result of this action the covering material is securely gripped between the walls of the frame members, aided particularly by the lip portion,

and as a result of the fact that the outer wall II extends substantially to the height of the top flange II] of the inner wall when the. covering material is anchored to the frame members, the fold 1 formed by bringing the covering material I over the outer wall II is disposed substantially above the top flanges III of the frame structure so as to completely conceal the frame members when the hand bag is viewed from positions opposite its front and rear faces.

My second form of frame structure illustrated in Fig. 5 is similar to the form of frame shown in Fig. 4, but differs slightly in that instead of constructing the outer walls of the frame members in the manner shown in Fig. 4, I have provided a modified form of outer wall I5 which extends from the outer end of the bottom flange 9 and is provided with a. lip-portion II; at its upper edge which projects toward the flange IU of the inner wall 8. Thus the covering material I is secured to' the frame structure of my second form by being clenched between the lip portion I3 and the lip portion I6 of the outer wall I5. The outer wall I5 of my second form is also formed of sufficient height to intersect the plane of the top flange It with the result that the fold I of the covering material, in. my second form, is disposed above the frame members to effect the attractive appearance of the hand bag, which is one of the main features of my invention.

My third form of frame structure illustrated in Fig. 8 comprises frame members, each of which has an inner wall I! and top and bottom flanges I8 and I9 extending on the same side of the inner wall I1, and an outer wall 20 having a lip portion 2| at its upper edge which projects toward the inner wall. Thus my third form of frame structure is similar to the construction illustrated in Fig. 5, but omits the downwardly-extending portion I2 of that form. The covering material I is brought over the outer edge of the lip 2I of the outer wall 20 and clenched between the outermost edge 22 of the top flange I8 and the lip 2| of the outer wall 20 so as to effect a secure anchorage. The outer wall 20 is formed of sufficient length to intersect the plane of the top flange I8 with the result that the fold I of the covering material I is disposed above the top flange I8 of the frame members to carry out the object effected by the forms of my invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

Thus by my invention I have provided a frame structure comprising frame members of simple and sturdy construction adapted to clench portions of the covering material so as to anchor the covering material securely to the frame structure and at the same time give to the hand bag the pleasing appearance to which reference has been hereinbefore made.

Although I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereby because the scope of my invention is best defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a hand bag or the like a pair of hingedly connected channeled frame members, each of said frame members comprising an inner wall having top and bottom flanges extending on the same side of the inner wall and an outer wall extending from the bottom flange, said top flange having a downwardly-extending portion, and covering material extending over the upper edge of said outer wall into said channel and clenched only between said outer wall and said downwardly-extending portion.

2. In a hand bag or the like a pair of hingedly connected channeled frame members, each of said frame members comprising an inner wall having top and bottom flanges extending on the same side and an outer wall extending from the bottom flange, said top flange having a downwardly-extending portion and a lip portion at the lower edge of said downwardly-extending portion extending toward said outer wall, and covering material extending over the edge of said outer wall into said channel and clenched only between said outer wall and said downwardly-extending portion, said outer wall extending from. said bottom flange substantially to the height of said top flange, and said covering having a fold disposed above the plane of said top flange.

3. In a hand bag or the like a pair of hingedly connected channeled frame members, each of said frame members comprising an inner wall having top and bottom flanges extending on the same side and an outer wall extending from the bottom flange having a lip portion at its outer edge extending toward said inner wall, said top flange having a downwardly-extending portion and a lip portion at the lower edge of said downwardlyextending portion extending toward said outer wall, and covering material extending over the edge of said outer wall into said channel and clenched only between said lip portions of said outer wall and said downwardy-extending portion, said outer wall extending substantially to the height of said top flange, and said covering having a fold disposed above the plane of said top flange.

GEORGE S. MERK. 

